The Delhi Police have arrested 33-year-old Ankit Goel for defacing the walls of a Delhi Metro coach and signboards with threats against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The CCTV footage from metro stations, which allegedly shows Goel writing on the signboard, led to his arrest.
Goel, a resident of Bareilly, had written abusive messages targeting Kejriwal on the walls of a metro coach and signboards at the Rajiv Chowk and Patel Chowk stations. The messages also raised questions about the Jal Board's audits and alleged "kickbacks" received by AAP leaders from the liquor policy.
The incident prompted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to file a letter with the Election Commission of India. Party leaders blamed the BJP for "hatching a plan to attack and cause harm to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal".
"This person's words are like those of the BJP… this has been done at Patel Nagar and Rajeev Chowk Metro stations both inside the platform and outside but no action has been taken yet… we are also going to raise this matter and file a complaint with the Election Commission (EC)… if anything happens to Kejriwal, Modi and BJP will be responsible," AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged.
Who is Ankit Goyal?
Ankit Goyal, aged 33, works in the Bank of Baroda in Bareilly and is reportedly a BJP supporter. The incident has sparked concerns about the level of brainwashing and polarization in the country, as Goyal allegedly travelled from Bareilly to Delhi to write death threats against a sitting Chief Minister.
According to police, the accused, Ankit Goyal, is highly educated and works in a renowned bank. He is not associated with any political party. However, sources suggest that the mental condition of the accused may not be good, although this can be confirmed only after a medical examination.
The Metro Unit of Delhi Police had registered an FIR and was investigating the matter.
Earlier, while addressing a press conference in the national capital, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, "The BJP has been in a state of panic ever since Arvind Kejriwal came out of jail. The BJP is now plotting to launch a deadly attack on Arvind Kejriwal. This conspiracy is being conducted directly from the Prime Minister's Office. A threat of attack on Kejriwal ji has been written at Rajiv Chowk and Patel Nagar Metro stations."
He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are so immersed in hatred that they are conspiring to kill the Delhi CM, adding that the PMO, BJP and PM Modi will be responsible if anything happens to Kejriwal. "PM Narendra Modi and the BJP are so immersed in hatred and revenge that they are conspiring to kill Arvind Kejriwal ji. I want to tell the government, administration and Election Commission that if anything happens to Arvind Kejriwal, the PMO, BJP and Narendra Modi will be responsible for it," the AAP leader said.